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A cataclysmic war, referred to hereafter as the Collapse, erupted about one thousand years into creation, and all but three demigods, all but two races, and all the gods died off. The tattered remnants of the world held together through the power of the three surviving demigods, including yours; the female demigod of the elves, named Asa. Three huge alchemic weather machines keep the world habitable, while the demigods have dispensed with the use of Heralds in favor of Avatars: physical projections of themselves that can walk and talk like people.

The afterlife was dismantled in the wake of the Collapse, and now, all souls are simply ‘inverted’ in the seas of Chaos outside reality after death, and absorbed by their corresponding demigod.

You were assigned by your King to track down a gang of bandits that had sided with the secessionists in the southlands, but were ambushed and nearly murdered by the conspiracy and their ancient weapon, the Orb of the Feathered Demon. Because the weapon can kill demigods, the Pantheon survivors made you a Herald in secret, and have charged you with killing the ten conspirators who survived the battle in the woods.

Previously, you took the step you've been dreading, and revealed yourself to the world. The reaction was instantaneous, but you didn't stay to watch, you immediately headed home to let Maas handle the fallout.


All mechanics are based on a 1d100+modifier roll.

The chilly winds of early winter rattle the windows of the Kings study as you kneel before him. King Maas looks over the list of names you’ve given him with evident sadness on his regal face. “So these are the families, then,” he states.

“They are,” you say quietly. “I would do right by them.”

“Good.” He folds the list and tucks it into a pocket concealed on his robe. “Then do so. What will you offer?”

“I would hear their requests first,” you say, but he shakes his head.

“No, Herald, I’m afraid it won’t work like that,” he says politely. “I know that it feels like if you come at them with an offer, you’re putting a price tag on the lives you took, but if you don’t give them some sort of terms up front, they’ll not know what to say. They’ll feel put on the spot, they’ll be defensive. You must be assertive, so that they don’t feel like you’re condescending to them.”


>”I’ll offer them a chance to speak with Asa and have her answer their questions.”
>”No, I insist. I’ll let them ask first.”
>”I think I’ll get a look at them first before making up my mind.”
>writein

>>34678930

>”I’ll offer them a chance to speak with Asa and have her answer their questions.”

>>34678930
>>”I’ll offer them a chance to speak with Asa and have her answer their questions.”
We can go from there.

>>34678930
”I think I’ll get a look at them first before making up my mind.”

“You may be right, Sire,” you admit. “I’ll go and see them, then make them an offer when I judge the state of them.”

“Very well,” Maas says. “Where do you want to do so?”

“If possible, a neutral ground,” you say, and explain Asa’s suggestion from the previous night.

He rubs his chin. “Ah… I would suggest you meet with them piecemeal, and do so in the garden behind the library in the noble district,” he suggests. “Where your Circle meets. Are they meeting today?”

“They shouldn’t be,” you say after a moment’s thought. “If they are, we’ll just go inside. How should we contact these people?”

“I’ll send messengers to their houses, asking them to meet in increments of one hour,” Maas says. “When do you want to do this? This afternoon?”

“I think so,” you say. You look out the window – it’s not even 9 in the morning. “Shall we say an hour after lunch?”

“Very well,” he says. “If they’re not home, I shall simply have the messengers leave notices.”

“All right,” you say heavily. “I appreciate this, your Majesty. Your help has been invaluable to me.”

He tilts his head forward. “My help is extended on the instance of your assisting the city in its problem, your Eminence,” he reminds you. “As long as you are, I’m glad to be of service.” The unspoken opposite is well-received.


As you leave the King’s audience chamber, you’re immediately beset by the nobles who usually crowd the place. While some draw back, awe-struck or shocked by your appearance – you’re in full uniform, tiara included – the rest cluster around you, and some even press you with questions. It’s honestly a bit shocking to see such a lack of decorum. “Lady Ledren-“ “Do you have a moment-“ “Where is the-“ “Why did you-“ And on it goes.


>Stay to answer questions for a bit
>Just go home

>>34679276
>Stay to answer questions for a bit
Likely a bunch of stupid questions, but cutting down on panic might help

>>34679276
>>Stay to answer questions for a bit
>>>Just go home
Walk and talk. They've got till we reach the exit to ask whatever.

>>34679515
Ah, the West Wing strategy, eh? Very well!

>>34679552
I'd kill for a West Wing Quest.

>>34679748
Dear God, no. I love dialogue, don't get me wrong, but please trust that nobody on /tg/ can write it well as fast as Aaron Sorkin.

Maybe on Anon-kun, where there's less pressure.

As much as you don’t want to talk to these people, you sort of have to, really. You keep walking as you talk. “Please, please, one at a time,” you say as you pass through the group. “What do you want to know?”

“Your Eminence, what does your appearance mean for the campaign in the south?” one noble asks as you walk past her and she falls into step.

“Not a thing, save that it only occurred because the enemy was foolish enough to attack a convoy headed that direction, and then four more, and then my company when I was Auxilia,” you say. Narrow doors bottleneck the group behind you, and they trail like the wake of a boat.

“And your appearance, is this a sign of divine support for the King?” another asks. Are these people journalists or nobles?

“No, but it means that the Pantheon respects his authority, else an Avatar would be directing my task in person,” you say quickly. “I am Cenderian, but I respect King Maas very much as a leader and as a person.”

“Do you have any intention to advise the King after your victory over these criminals, your Eminence?” another demands to know.

“He won’t need it, I’m sure,” you say politely. “Avatars drop in on the Kings and Empresses of the world all the time. This specific incident demands the aid of a mortal agent.” With that, you duck between two Guards who hover near the door to the more general parts of the castle, and breathe a sigh of relief. “Bloody minor nobles,” you grumble.

(con’t)


Safely in the tunnel, you head back home, and upon arrival, head upstairs to find a note from your husband on the desk. You pick it up and read.

Elsa,

I’m at work again. The guys here are pretty strange to me now. Still, I guess I don’t mind. The place is safe, at least. I’ll make goulash for dinner.

Love,
Jerome


You have a few hours before the meetings. Gherta will be busy with the aftermath of Asa’s public revelation, but do you want to meet with anybody else?

>Yes (Kelscik, Culler, Hanren, etc)
>No

ALSO!

>Bring the disc and chip
>Don’t

ALSO!

>Go in Heraldic gear (which? Armor or tunic?)
>Go in something else (which uniform set? [list is on character sheet])

>>34679965
>No
>Bring them
>Heraldic tunic

>>34679965
>>Yes
Check on the circle, see what the situation there is.

>>Bring the disc and chip
Why not?

>Go in something else (which uniform set? [list is on character sheet])
Nondescript clothing.

Rolled 2, 2 = 4 (2d2)

Ties on two points? All right, flipping coins.

>>34679965
>No
>Bring them
>Something non descript?

Oh, for fuck's sake.

All right, writing.

You may want to check in on the Circle later, but right no, you’ve got no real time to do so. You wolf doen some bread and meat, and grab the disc and chip. You’ll probably not need them, and you haven’t got a way to mount them yet, but just having them may help. You quickly change into more casual clothing – complete with low-brim hat – and walk out into the street, dodging eyes and crowds until you reach the library.

To your surprise, the place is packed, and there’s lots of people in the history section. Maybe they’re looking up records of the old Heralds. You, of course, have a ton of those, and they won’t stop interrupting your sleep.

Out back, you see a small group of people packing up the remains of a picnic, and a few people just watching the clouds or reading… and a group of nearly twenty Guards.


>Go ask if Maas sent them
>Page Asa for last-minute advice
>writein

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27 KB JPG

>>34680697
>>Go ask if Maas sent them
Ask if they can at least be a little less obvious...

>>34680697

>Go ask if Maas sent them

>>34680697
>Go ask if Maas sent them
OI YOU LOT

You walk right on up and glare until one notices you. “Gentlemen, ladies,” you say flatly. “Could you be more obvious?”

Their Sergeant shoulders his way up to you and glowers. “Ma’am, we’re here for a reason.”

You take off your hat.

The Sergeant’s eyes widen. “…Oh. Uh… Lady Ledren. His Majesty said to provide you with whatever security you need.”

And to serve as a visible reminder of your importance while also underlining that your authority doesn’t actually eclipse his, as he once insinuated? Maybe, but Maas isn’t a petulant man. You sigh and grind your palms into your eyes. “Fine. Fine. Just ring the garden. These people have suffered a lot, they don’t need to feel like they’re being leered at by soldiers.”

“Ma’am.” He salutes and pumps his fist, and the group dissipates.

You settle down on a bench and wait as the last few people drift out. Aside from you and the Guards, there’s nobody in the garden.

Around the strike of the distant belltower, a small group of humans walks in, looking around in bewilderment. You thumb your Gem. {Lady Asa, the first group is here. They’re human.}

[Lady?]

{Force of habit.}

[It’s the Oscars family. The victim was the human woman, Victoria.]

{Got it.}

A man in the group spots you and hesitantly walks up. “Um… excuse me.”

You rise to your feet and bow slightly. “Sir.”

“Are you… I mean, we got a notice from the King himself, saying we should be here,” the man says nervously.

“May I read it?” you ask, extending your hand.

He passes it over and you give it a glance. All it says is that on behalf of the King, the recipient is desired to visit the garden you’re in, for a formal discussion of reparation. Your name isn’t mentioned.


>How do you play this?

>Contrite – apologize at once
>Assertive – apologize, but vow recompense
>Staid – let them do most of the talking
>writein

>>34681285
>Contrite – apologize at once

>>34681285
Assertive – apologize, but vow recompense

Fuck, I dunno.
>Assertive – apologize, but vow recompense

Also explain we had no idea they were hostages.

“I see,” you say. You return the message and look over the group. Five people… a man, three children, and an older woman. “May I ask how you were related to Mrs. Oscars?”

“She was my wife,” the man says. “This is her sister Olivia, this is her niece, these are our children,” he says, pointing the others out in turn.

You nod and beckon them to the benches. “Well, my friends, as you may have heard, I have been tasked with capturing the criminals responsible for the slaughter of the Auxilia force in the woods,” you tell them. You remove the hat again, and they all gasp. “My name is Elsa Ledren, and I am the last Herald of Asa.”

“You!” Olivia gasps. “You killed my sister?”

You feel your heart shrink a bit as you hear it, but the man hushes her as the children stare uncertainly. “I did,” you admit. “Purely by accident. It wasn’t clear whether the people in that building were hostages or accomplices.”

“And you attacked anyway?” the man demands.

“When the target is as powerful as Everett Soutri, you don’t hesitate,” you say quietly. “I’m still sickened. I’m still ashamed. And… I want to make amends.”

“Why did Mom die?” one of the kids asks nervously.

You close your eyes as grief squeezes your soul. “There… was no reason, young man,” you say softly. “She was just… unlucky. She happened to be walking by when Soutri was taking hostages.”

“But…” he says, still grasping for an explanation. “But Mom… she never hurt anybody.”

“That’s what I’m saying, child,” you assure him gently. “She didn’t need to die, she didn’t need to be taken hostage… it just happened. And I’m to blame.”

“The message said you wanted to recompense us somehow, but what’s the point?” the man – oddly, he never gave a name – says coldly. “You can’t bring her back.”


(con’t)

“No, but I can prostrate myself at the foot of divine judgment, and so I am,” you say. These people are clearly too angry to think up of some sort of reward to give them, and who can blame them. “So I ask you. What boon can I grant to help make up for what I’ve done?”

The man glares at you. “Our kids have to grow up without a mother now,” he bites off. His voice falters as he talks. “But… you say you want to make up for it? Nothing you can do will make up for it!”

“Not entirely, no,” you admit. “But I can make this horrible time easier on you. Is there no task I can perform, no gift I can give? Nothing? Could I… perhaps, grant some audience time with Asa, or bequeath a scholarship to one of your children? Both? Any reasonable request you may have, I will hear.”

The man rises to his feet. The Guards tense. “Can you bring her back?” he angrily demands.

“No. Nothing can.”

“Then go fuck yourself,” he snarls, and he stomps off.

The woman looks from him, to you, to the children, who are all crying silently, then hustles after the man. “Arlo, wait!” she says urgently. “Wait, come on!”

The one of the girls runs after her, so does the boy, but the little girl hesitates. “Lady… um…”

“Ledren,” you provide. “Call me Elsa.”

The girl pauses as the Arlo and Olivia argue. “Elsa… um… why doesn’t heaven exist any more?” she asks hesitantly.

>Have Asa come and explain in person
>Do your best to tell her yourself
>writein

>>34682081
>>Have Asa come and explain in person
Uh, not sure how much we're supposed to tell about this.

Also, if they can't decide on anything, or they just say 'fuck you'. Leave the offer open. It might be years down the line, but one day they may need some sort of help.

>Have Asa come and explain in person
Because someone who can describe it in a more roundabout way than my own directness would serve better to not fill this child with fear.

>>34682081
>Do your best to tell her yourself

“I can have Asa tell you,” you say. “Would that help?”

“Asa can…” the kid’s tear-stained face goes pale. “She can be here?”

You press the Gem. {Sister, could you pop in on me for a moment? I could use your help.}

[What’s wrong?]

{The family is… very angry, and the kid is asking metaphysical questions I can’t really answer,} you say awkwardly.

“Madam, sir?” Asa’s voice asks. The two arguing adults look over to see Asa standing beside you, one hand on yoru shoulder. The kid gasps in shock, while the other two just stare. “Please. My sister is trying to help you.”

“Lady Asa!” Olivia gasps. Arlo recoils.

Then, his face darkens. “Lady Asa, your representative is irresponsible,” he snaps.

You feel the hand on your shoulder tense. “No. She simply erred.” She knees before the child and gently rests her hand on her cheek. “Little one, I’m sorry if I startled you,” she says quietly. “What question did you ask my Herald?”

“I… I asked why heaven is gone,” the kid whimpers.

Asa nods in sympathy. “Ah, yes. I miss it too. It’s no secret, though. It’s gone because the choice was presented to us, in one moment. We could keep the gates of heaven open, or destroy this world. We chose to seal and empty heaven instead of killing every single person.”

“What happened?” the kid asks tremulously. She’s a mess, but at least she’s not crying now. The Guards are all staring, agape. Half are kneeling.

“I did something foolish, too,” Asa says, almosy too quiet to hear. “Child, I’m sorry there’s no paradise beyond death. Trust me. I’m sorry. But I do promise that no matter what else happens, the people who hurt your mother will pay.”


(con’t)

“It… Dad said it was Elsa who did it,” the kid says.

Asa’s eyes flick up to you as she rests her hands on her knees. “Mmm… in part. But it was the man who captured her that bears the most of the burden.” She straightens up, and her eyes flick to you again. [What do they want in payment?]

You tap the Gem again as the other four walk back over. {They told me to go fuck myself.}

Asa sighs as Arlo approaches. “Sir, my sister is in error, and wishes to rectify that error. Do you know how rare it is what somebody does that? Cursing her accomplishes nothing.”

“Rectifying her mistake? That’s what the quarry is for,” he says angrily, in reference to the huge prison-labor strip mine to the north. Those comdemned to death but in good health are often sent there to be worked to death instead, while their families are allowed to keep the convict’s possessions they had on their persons when caught. “Send her there if she wants to make good.”

Asa’s eyes narrow. “That will not happen.”

“I offered you something in exchange for your forgiveness, sir, but if you don’t want to grant that, I understand,” you say from your seat. “Perhaps… I will simply leave the offer. I’m sure now, vengeance and anger are higher in your mind than forgiveness –“

“Oh, you think?” he says curtly.

“But I will leave my offer of paying for your kids’ educations standing,” you finish. “They deserve my help in that much, at least. And if it’s any consolation, sir, my quest may kill me.”

“One can hope,” he says, and he stomps off.

The kids rush to follow, but Olivia, surprisingly, stays. “Lady… my Lady, please,” she says, anxiously watching her brother-in-law vanish into the building. “Just… Arlo is a good father, he’s just so angry…”


(con’t)

“I understand, madam,” Asa says sorrowfully. “Go. Farewell.”

Olivia bows and runs after Arlo as you sink back into the chair, holding back a wail of rage and regret. “Damn it!” you groan. “That was a nightmare!”

“It wouldn’t be a trial of absolution if it were easy, Sister, else there would have been no sinners,” Asa says heavily. She sits down beside you and loops one arm over your shoulder. “But stay strong, for you’ve done what you had to. Even if they rejected your offer, it was as pure and sincere as any I’ve seen.” She releases you and stands again after a moment. “Even now, the pall on your soul fades.”

“I feel horrible!”

“But you won’t,” she says. “I took your mental scars away, but the burden of memory is yours to bear… but now, it will lessen.” She looks up. “I am surprised you didn’t ask me to bring Vier. Victoria went to her.”

“Well…yes,” you admit. “But I don’t have her in my forehead, you know.”

Asa half-smiles. “Oh, indeed.” Her Avatar vanishes, and you sprawl back in the seat, uncaring of the Guards’ uncomfortable stares.

“What the hell,” you mumble to the sky. “The quarry would be easier.”


(con’t)

An hour later, a man in a Royal Couriers’ uniform jogs in, panting. “Lady Ledren!” he says, dropping to one knee. “I’m so sorry, madam, but the recipients of the letter for the kin of Mister Klerna were not at home! I left a note in their mail, instead.”

“Thank you, sir,” you say, and he lopes off.

“Hmph.” You slump back in your seat, massaging your eyes. “Now what? I have an hour!”


>Go read something in the stacks (what subject?)
>Go for a walk to clear your head
>writein

Be back after dinner.

>>34682886
>Go for a walk to clear your head

>>34682886
>>Go for a walk to clear your head
yay walks

>>34682886
>>Go for a walk to clear your head
Yell at some trees too

Back and writing.

“Hell with it, I’m going to clear my head,” you grunt, forcing your hat on over the brand. You nod to the Sergeant where he’s still standing by the door. “I’m off to clear my head. Be back in a while.”

“Aye, your Ladyship,” he says, tapping his sword flat to his breast.


Outside, you pull the brim low and wander off in the direction of the border of the merchants’ district. The sounds of the streets are fading with the good weather, but the midday foot traffic is still heavy enough that you can just blend in.

You tap the Gem before you leave the sight of the library. {Sister, I’m going to go for a walk. The second guy’s families are a no-show.}

[Alright. Say, if you have a moment, you should go drop by the public theater in the district ahead of you. Vier is there.]

{She is? Is something wrong?}

[No, she’s having a private meeting with some Brotherhood members who found some Crusade-era relics they wanted to show her and sell off later,] Asa says. [I’m sure she’d like to chat.]

{Thanks.}

You drift in that direction, not really hurrying along, and think. The reaction you got back there was brutal, no question. Deserved, even. But the fact that your station is the only thing saving you from the quarry is troubling. Nobody else can do what you can.

But then, is that so bad? Yes, you were spared a punishment, but doesn’t this entire process of soul absolution exist solely to help those whose roles are indispensable? What you did was wrong, and you’ll never be imprisoned for it… but people who are sent to prison or the quarry aren’t compelled to apologize.

The walls of the amphitheater loom over the streets outside, and the traffic isn’t too heavy here – you walk in undetected, and stand in the wide open chamber.


(con’t)

Vier’s Avatar is on the stage, with a small smattering of Guards at the foot of the platform. A few Brothers and Sisters are surrounding a box, where Vier is running her hand over some items. After a moment, she steps back and nods, and the Sister casts a spell on the boxes. They glimmer and vanish, and then, to your surprise, Vier hands over what looks like a bag of money. The Guards and Brothers all file past you, out the doors into the street, while the Sister exchanges a few words with Vier and follows.

You wait until they’re all gone before walking up to her. Her Avatar looks the same in the flesh as it always does, but she’s back in the costume she was wearing when you first saw her in the forest, instead of the more militant clothing she has on when she’s at the tower.

“Ah, Herald Ledren, hello,” she says as you approach. “Having a trying day, I hear.”

“I am,” you admit. “What did I just see?”

“Ah, the Sister wanted to know if her pack of adventurers had found Crusade-era weapons that had been contaminated by prolonged exposure to Collapse-era magic toxins,” Vier explains. “There aren’t many, but what remain are quite dangerous. When this happens, we skim the contents of shipwrecks off the bottom of the sea and give them to the people whose property we must destroy.”

You nod in understanding. “So it was a sale, not a confiscation.”

Vier grins. “A bag of gems for a box of weapons that would burn out your soul. It’s a fair trade, mm?”

You sit at the edge of the stage and look up at the clouds. “So… you’ve heard of my quest for absolution.”

“I have.” She sits beside you. “It’s noble. It’s just.”


(con’t)

“It’s horrible,” you say flatly.

“It is. And good for you, trust me,” she says. “And good for those whose losses are repaid.”

“Unless they reject it arbitrarily!” you explode, thrusting your hands into the sky in frustration. “I offered to pay for her kids’ university studies, and he told me to fuck myself!”

Vier sighs. “I anticipated that, but it was worth trying.” She grips your shoulder and leans in. “Keep going. The pall on your soul is lifting.”


>”Asa said that too! What does it mean?”
>”Do you foresee problems with the other two?”
>”What should I do to track Moor and Forest?”
>writein

>>34684454
>>”Do you foresee problems with the other two?”

also, we had spies in place on Forest and Moor, right? We should check in on that soon.

>>34684608

For clarity: Yes, you asked Maas to assign spies to those two, but he didn't tell you if he'd done it.

>>34684454
”What should I do to track Moor and Forest?”

>>34684454
>”Asa said that too! What does it mean?”

“What does that even mean?” you ask. “The thing about palls. Asa said the same thing!”

Vier nods. “Yes, it’s a bit of a metaphor on our part. The way a person’s soul looks in the chaos-enriched vision we possesses. You have it too, now, your sight just isn’t refined enough to see emotions. When people have a task to complete, but they’re afraid to do it, it lends their soul-light a bit of a strange color. Yours is fading.”

“Oh. I thought it meant you could see when somebody was going to go to hell or something.”

“No, no, we can’t tell that by sight,” she assures you.

You quickly change the subject. “So… do you foresee problems with these next two families?”

“No, I doubt it,” she says after a moment, “but they were elves. Ask Asa.”

“All right… do you think we should do more to track Moor and Forest?” you ask.

She nods. “I would go see Maas later, talk to Gherta maybe. I’m sure they have ideas, but they’re so busy right now, you know.”

“Yeah.” You look up at the sky and heave yourself to your feet. “I should go,” you tell her. “I need to go see the last family.”

Vier solemnly nods. “You’ll do well, Herald. I’m sure your soul will cast off its taint.”


(con’t)

Back in the garden, you sit back down on the bench, just as a cluster of elves walk through the door. You stand back up and bow as they approach. The first elf in the pack is an old man, with a bit of a beer belly, and thick, graying hair. “Er, hello,” he says awkwardly. “We got a message… with the Royal seal on it. Are you… I mean, are you Herald Ledren?”

“I am,” you confirm. “And you, sir?”

“I knew it,” he says quietly. Louder, he states his name. “My name is Sarno, Gavin Sarno. My son was Dallen Sarno.”

You bow your head. “Sir. Thank you for coming. I hate to interrupt your mourning, but I feel I must do this.”

A kid at the back of the pack – a teen, more like – snorts, but doesn’t say anything. Sarno sits awkwardly as you return to the bench, and the rest take seats. “So… what happened?” Sarno asks. His voice is throaty, as if he’d been crying a lot. Of course.

You set your teeth and retell as much of the tale as you can, concealing only the names of a few people. At the end, you and he are both looking a bit drained. “I see,” Sarno says quietly. “We… we didn’t know.”

“Lady Ledren, right?” the kid asks sullenly. “That’s your name?”

“Call me Elsa,” you inform him.

“Elsa. Whatever. Why did you do it? Why did you just blast a building like that?” the kid demands. The adults shift a bit, but none of them shush him. Maybe they want to know too.


>Cautious - ”I couldn’t risk there being more than one conspirator in there.”
>Factual - ”I didn’t know there were hostages.”
>Dismissive – “I had to hurry.”
>writein

>>34685330
>"I was foolish. The thought that the people in the building with Soutri were anything other than allies of his never occurred to me."

>>34685330
>>Factual - ”I didn’t know there were hostages.”
that and >>34685443

>>34685330
>Factual - ”I didn’t know there were hostages.”
Factual - ”I didn’t know there were hostages.”

You slowly draw in a breath and exhale. He’s just resentful. “Sir, to be blunt. I was a fool.”

They weren’t expecting that. “What?” the kid asks, startled.

“I was a fool,” you repeat. “I didn’t think the people in the building with the target, Soutri, were hostages. I didn’t even know he’d taken hostages. I thought they were co-conspirators.”

“Conspirators? What were they conspiring to do?” Sarno asks, surprised.

“What does it matter?” the kid puts in. His pale skin almost glows in the sullen winter light. “My brother’s dead because of… because of you, damn it!” he says, tearing up.

“Yeah, I know,” you say with quiet remorse. “The conspiracy was to traffic in Collapse-era weapons,” you say. “I’ve taken down all but a handful of this ring. This was the first time civilians got involved, and actually got killed.”

“So what do you intend to do now?” Sarno asks, before the kid can.

You lean forward in your seat, fixing him with your look. “I won’t ask for forgiveness, not for nothing. I want to make this up to you, and take a step towards recompence. I want to offer your family some scholarship, to help cover school costs.”

Gavin blinks, but slowly nods his head. “I see. Your position protects you from any sort of punishment, then?”

At least he’s being frank about it. “I’m the only person who can do this fast enough to contain it,” you say quietly. “I’m the first Herald in three thousand years, I’ll probably be the last. That’s the magnitude of the threat. When it’s all over, I’m retiring from the public eye forever, if it doesn’t kill me in the process. So, yes, I’m not going to be imprisoned. But Asa specifically told me to contact you and help make things right.”


(con’t)

The kid starts to say something when a third person speaks up. One of the other adults in the group, a woman about the same age as Gavin, reaches out to forestall him. “Dan, please,” she says softly. She turns her gaze to you. “He’s angry at the loss of his older brother.”

You meet the boy’s eyes. “I don’t expect forgiveness, don’t worry.”

He snorts and leans back in his seat. “The Pantheon sure fucked up,” he says, just loud enough to for you to hear it. The woman squeezes his leg a little tighter, and he shuts up.

“I want to make things right, sir,” you say, turning your gaze back to Gavin. “The scholarship is just a suggestion. Asa and the King have authorized me to extend to you whatever you desire, so long as it is not too great a burden on them to grant it.”

Gavin recoils. “What? Really? Anything?”

“Anything,” you confirm. “It needn’t happen now, either. I’ll probably need a few more weeks to polish these criminals off.”

“No, I know what we want,” he says. “I know exactly what we want.”

“Name it.”

He leans forward and holds your gaze. “I want a memorial put in place, for my son and the other two. I want that, and the scholarship for Dan. Full scholarship, now. Boarding costs, tuition, uniform, books, tools, whatever he needs.”


>”Too much.”
>”We have an accord.”
>”You don’t want a separate memorial?”
>Page Asa
>writein

>>34686080
>”We have an accord.”
We should be able to manage this. Definitely the money at least, there's a ridiculous amount squirreled away.

>>34686080
>>”We have an accord.”
Get it done somehow.

>>34686103
I think we actually burned through a good chunk of it. But sunken ship treasure might cover it.

>>34686080
>”You don’t want a separate memorial?”

>>34686273
I think we burned through like 1-2% of it.

>>34686273
I just realized I never kept a running tally. I'll see what we've spent so far.

>>34686389
>>34686412
I remember Maas saying that doing something (I forget what) would use up the rest of the confiscated funds.

>>34686470
I am 99% certain he was talking about something else or you remembered wrong. It was a LOT of money.

>>34686497
It was an error on my part. I had typoed the amount of cash in the briefcase.

Okay. You paid Garren for the help against Ding, you paid Cassandra to scout out the place, you paid for enchanted Shadow armor, you paid for enchanted Heraldic armor, you paid Hart's team to help you in the ports, and you paid Garren for wards. You have one hundred ninety eight million, five hundred seventy one thousand Cenderian Acert (their name for their currency) left. The full free-ride scholarship would cost about four hundred thousand. The memorial would cost about a hundred thousand.

>>34686790
wow
that's 50 million more than I thought we had

>>34686884

Like I said, I had a typo.

Well with this money let's just pay the entire local brotherhood to rek the next conspirator we go after.

>>34687024
Disregarding the fact that, as Culler has said a few times, most of the local Chapter is on the road right now, you could certainly hire the rest.

Of course, that will just mean the conspiracy get more warning of your advance, won't they?

I will scale the challenge to the size of the forces you bring, no matter what you do, just like how a DM will scale the monsters in a dungeon to the size of the party. The advantage to certain parties is composition. Bringing Garren, some pikemen, some swordsmen, and some cavalry was a good idea fighting Ding, and nobody escaped. Bringing tons of people you don't need WILL increase collateral damage, as well. That's just how the Brotherhood fights.

If you want brute force, anyway, Kelscik is the better option.

>>34687112
:(
I never agreed to ezmode disabling.

>>34687171
Nobody's agreeing to anything. When the time comes to attack Forest or Moor, you'll have to strategize, believe me. These last four are the bosses. The richest enemy, the most powerful enemy, the most elusive enemy, the best-equipped enemy. You're not even near the asymptote of the difficulty curve.

>>34687230
how horrifying
hrm
Kotrick: richest
Explorer: best equipped? most powerful?
I'd say Forest is most elusive but I think we know where he's hiding. So maybe he's best equipped.

“We have an accord, Mister Sarno,” you say, climbing to your feet. “I have your address. I’ll pay for the scholarship and memorial as soon as this is all over.”

“And if you die before the end?” the kid asks hotly.

You push back your temper. “Then the King will pay for it,” you say smoothly. “I promise you that.”

Sarno stands too. “I guess we’re done, then,” he says heavily. “Can you pass along a message to Asa at least?”

“Of course, sir, what is it?” you ask.

He looks you in the eye. “Ask her if the city is really better off for her having said the names of her enemies aloud in it.”

You shake your head. “No need. I already did ask her. I’ll tell you what she told me: they’re terrified that I’ve already killed off their top nine lieutenants, and they’ll make mistakes or try to run now. They were more or less invincible before,” you inform them.

Sarno shakes his head. “Well. All right, then. I suppose there’s nothing else to say.”

“Indeed.” You step back and bow. “Farewell, sir.”

“Yeah.” He nods and turns away. You’re half-expecting a snipe from the kid, but he doesn’t say anything either.


>Go talk to Darril
>Go report back to the King straightaway
>Go talk to an ally (check in on Arisa, see how she’s handling all this? Go talk to Kelscik, see if he can explain why the chip isn’t working? Go talk to Culler, ask him for advice?)
>something else

>>34687391
>Go talk to Kelscik, see if he can explain why the chip isn’t working?

>>34687391
>>Go talk to an ally
Arisa. I imagine the Circle has gotten way more popular lately.

Then we go see the king about the spies we asked him to dispatch.

You sit on the bench for a while, just looking at the dead grass. Whether they were reserved or hateful, they all suffered. At least something good will come of it.

You rise and dismiss the Guards with a nod. They quietly troop out behind you as you walk into the streets, making your way to Arisa’s manor. Maybe she’s got good news.

As you approach, though, your heart falls into your stomach. The building is damaged. Heavily damaged. Your pace picks up until you’re flying through the road, until you skid to a halt in front of the building. A small crowd is gathered there, staring at the structure.

Your breath freezes when you see Arisa’s profile inside the building through the open door. You push your way through the crowd and barge in.

Arisa’s leaning against a table, nursing an ugly wound on her forehead. Three Guards are standing in a semicircle around her, glowering at her. “You say he was alone?” one asks.

“He was, I said he was,” Arisa mumbles. Her eyes focus on you as you rush in. “Elsa!”

The Guards all jerk at your name. They turn to gape as you come to rest beside your friend. “Arisa! What happened?” you ask.

She rubs her eyes, leaving red streaks on her face. “I… I came home from the market, and there was somebody destroying my house,” she mumbles. “I tried to stop him, and when he got a look at me, he smacked me with some little black… club thing,” she says. “What’re those…”

“A blackjack?” you ask, gripping her hands. “A little club on a strap?”

“Yeah,” she says, wincing. “He didn’t say anything.”


>”Describe him.”
>”Did he take anything?”
>”When was this?”
>”Who are those people outside?”
>”Did you call the Guard?”
>writein

(take as many options as you want)

>>34687886
>”Did he take anything?”
>”When was this?”
>"Describe him"

>>34687886
>>”Describe him.”
>>”Did he take anything?”
>>”When was this?”
>>”Who are those people outside?”
>>”Did you call the Guard?”
"Was there anyone else?"
"Did you notice anybody following you before?"
"Any other strange occurances?"
"Any threats made because of me?"

A dozen questions race through your mind. “Did he take anything?” you ask, looking at the wrecked façade.

She slowly shakes her head. “No, nothing that I can see.”

“When did it happen?”

“This morning…a few hours ago,” she mumbles. She reaches for a glass of water with one shaky hand. “Ugh. This really hurts…”

You look up at the Guards. “Can you describe him?”

“He… it was a wilderness elf, young, built like a farmhouse,” she says unsteadily. “Dark hair, wearing a cloak over leather armor.”

You commit that to memory as best you can. “Who are the people outside?”

She sighs. “My neighbors. One of them called the Guard, I think, these guys were here when I woke up.:

You grip her hand and catch her eye. It’s not easy; she’s clearly concussed. “Arisa, has anybody been following you before now?”

“Following? No,” she says after a moment’s effort.

“Has anything else strange been happening?” you ask. You don’t want to overload her with questions, but if this is tied to you…

“Well… there were lots of people in the streets after your speech yesterday,” she says, “but I didn’t see anything weird.”

“Has anybody threatened you?” you ask.

“No!” she mutters. “Not beyond the usual ‘Circle fanatic’ stuff.”

You wince. “Damn, Arisa, I’m sorry.”

“Not your fault,” she says automatically.


>Use What Once Grew, Now Again to heal her
>Give her over to a medic somewhere


NO MATTER WHAT, ROLL 1D100+13

Rolled 53 + 13 (1d100 + 13)

>>34688310
>>Use What Once Grew, Now Again to heal her
HERALD POWERS, ACTIVATE

She’s in pain. This is what you’re here for.

“Arisa, listen,” you say quietly. “This will feel a little weird, okay?”

“Huh?” she asks blearily.

You close your eyes and focus. You feel your energy flow into her, and the Guards gasp.

“What the hell,” one whispers. “It’s real.”

When you open your eyes, Arisa is staring at you like she’s seen a ghost, and she’s probing the wound – or rather, the bare, clean skin where it had been. “…Asa’s blessings on you, sister,” she finally manages. “Thank you.”

You stand up and nearly fall, the act tired you so much. One of the Guards moves to catch you, but you right yourself. “Mmm… no, I’m fine,” you say. “All right. Arisa, hwo do you feel?”

“As good as new,” she says faintly. “Thank you, thank you…”

“All I did was close the wound and fix the concussion,” you say, dropping into the chair beside her. “Ugh.” You force the dizziness away and focus. It was probably Forest, you think to yourself. What would he gain from trashing this place?

“Sister, do you keep any of the Circle’s treasures here?” you ask as she slowly stands.

“Goodness no,” she says. “We… we keep all that sort of thing… in…”

You meet her eyes and you both pale. “The warehouse,” you both say at once. Her hand flies to her waist-

“My key!” she gasps. “He took my keyring! He can get into the warehouse!”


>wat do

>>34688842
Hurry over to the warehouse
Have some guards come with.

>>34688842
Acquire guards, to the warehouse!

You totter upright, grabbing the armrests of the chair for support. “You two, fall in,” you snap, looking over at two of the Guards. “You, go call some backup to the warehouse, on the corner of Alderdes Boulevard and Memorial Street!”

The Guard you indicated steps back nervously. “Uh… your Eminence, we’re under orders to stay here,” he says carefully.

“And I’m a Sergeant in the Auxilia, Private, so follow your FUCKING ORDERS!” you roar. He takes a full step back before snapping to attention. “GO! GET! ME! SOME! BACKUP!”

“Sergeant! Aye, Sergeant!” the Guard stammers, and takes off at a sprint.

Arisa stares as you grab an apple from the table behind her, wolf it down in six bites, and toss the core in the basin. “Food restores me after I use that ability,” you explain as the other two Guards grab their gear. Swords and shields, you note. “Now, listen, Arisa. I need you to stay here. Barricade the door, only let me or another Circle member in. Understand?”

“Yes, my Lady,” she says in a tiny voice.

You stab the Gem as you take off for the warehouse. {Sister, the Circle warehouse is about to come under attack! I think it’s Forest!}

[Does he have Kotrick’s Orb?] she asks urgently.

{I can’t possibly know that!}

[Blast.] A pause. [All right. I’m going to inform the King. Whom else shall I inform, if anyone?]


>Name anybody you want to join you (keeping in mind that the city’s layout means that some will take as much as six hours to arrive if she can even find them, and that the more people you name, the greater the likelihood of collateral damage)

>>34689266
DISCUSSION TIME

I suggest shadows. Quickest we can get since most other options require negotiating money and all that.

If the thread is up tomorrow, I'll keep running. I'm turning in now, and if the thread dies, we'll pick up here next time.

bump

>>34690317
bump

>>34691599
bump

bump

>>34693475
bump

Ahoy!

There are a myriad of options. You could have her bring Kelscik, you could have her bring Culler and his Brothers, or Dervich, but ultimately, too many people would confuse the battle. {Shadows, a Shadow team!} you tell her. {The warehouse is at the corner of Alderdes Boulevard and Memorial Street!}

[Very well.] A pause. [The King is hesitant, since the last rushed battle ended so poorly, but he agrees to send some forces. On such short notice, and inside the walls, all he can send in time to meet you is a mounted Shadow team and a small Auxilia escort.]

{It’ll help!}

You try, but you can’t run the whole way. Four blocks out, you slow next to a large building and catch your breath. The two Guards are heaving – they clearly haven’t been running around the city as much as you have lately. You pat yourself down and realize something with a mounting sense of horror… all you have is your dagger.

One of the Guards notices, though. “Uh, ma’am… if you need a weapon…” he manages, “then I can spare a backup…”

You look over to see him extending a bodkin he drew from a sheathe on his back.


>Dagger alone
>Twin short blades it is

>>34696212
>Dagger alone
Magic dagger and nonmagic bodkin would just throw us off.

File: Hugz-original.png (14 KB, 600x450)

14 KB PNG

I've been called to do yardwork. Please keep the thread alive until I return.

Sorry.

>>34696911
bump for yardwork

“I’ll go with the tool I have,” you say, waving it off. “Thanks, though.”

After a few minutes catching your breath, you take off again, and the warehouse looms into view. Your heart sinks as you see what’s happened – the front door is wide open. You quickly page Asa. {Sister, the door to the warehouse is open. Is Roland dead?}

[The security guard? No,] she replies. [Haret says he’s alive.]

>Wait here for backup
>Charge!

>>34698642
>>Wait here for backup

I'm wary of charging into a place without knowing what's in there

>>34698642
>Wait for backup
try and position yourself to cover as many exits from the building as possible
but we have no armor to engage with so none of that.

You press your back against the corner of the building across Memorial, trying to see in with your incredible eyes. You don’t see movement, but that doesn’t mean much, it’s a big building.

After a few minutes, a Shadow team rides up, and to your not unhappy surprise, it’s Sir Reed. The Knight Shadow looks down at you with a grim look. “Herald, greetings once more,” he says, noddling slightly. “I understand from His Majesty that the enemy is in here?”

“One guy, a mercenary named Forest,” you tell him. “Situation inside is unknown.”

“Very well.” Reed turns to Zahn, and she takes off for the side of the warehouse that faces away from the road. She grapples up in seconds with her marvelous Infiltrator armor, and then belly-crawls up to the windows along the top floor.

She peers in, then shakes her head. She makes eye contact with Reed and shakes her fist sideways – no targets.

“It appears to be empty, your Eminence,” Reed says from his mount.

“She just indicated no targets,” you say tersely, the memories of your battle in the ports and at Soutri’s place returning. “Have your Auxiliaries fan out and cover the exits. There’s two, one here and one on the far side.”

“Yes.” Reed points at the back alley, and the team of ten Auxiliaries he brought with him fan out behind the building. Stone and Drevie dismount and heft large enchanted swords, while Reed looks down from his horse. “What is your plan?”

>“Sneak in the back door and catch Forest off-guard!”
>”Rush the front door while Zahn covers us from the rooftops!”
>writein

oh shit, thread still up

>>34699440
>”Rush the front door while Zahn covers us from the rooftops!”

>>34699440
Sneaky sneaky!

>>34699440
>>“Sneak in the back door and catch Forest off-guard!”
Guard not dead, nobody inside, door wide open.

He probably grabbed what he wanted already and got the hell out. The guard is either being dragged along as a hostage or tied up somewhere inside.

ffffffffff, two votes after i already started writing

“He’s been in there a while,” you mutter. Louder, you anser Reed. “Sir Reed, we’re going in the back door too. Can you leave a few people here to make sure Forest doesn’t flee out the front?”

“Very well.” Reed dismounts and draws an enchanted claymore. “You two, stay behind us until we have a target,” he says tyo the Guards, who nod and draw swords. The crowd around you disappears as the public wakes up to what’s happening.

You draw a deep breath and page Asa one last time. {Reed’s here! We’re going in the back!}

[I have an Avatar on a nearby rooftop, watching you,] Asa’s voice comes back. [The instant you can cinfirm the absence of Kotrick’s Orb, I’ll step in.]

{Thanks.}

The five Auxiliaries around the front door draw cutlasses and crouch beside the entrance as the two Guards join them. You race through the back alley until you find the other five men, who have bracketed the door – this one is close.

You put the key in and turn the lock, and the door swings open.

You still your nerves and focus. “Time to go!”


>Use an ability before going in
>Just rush in now

>>34699804
>Ability
Don't know if Forest ever tapped the well or not, but with 4 uses of Soul-Finder daily it can't hurt to blow one here.

>>34699440
>“Sneak in the back door and catch Forest off-guard!”

>>34699804
>>34699904
Also we have through the eyes of ghosts on right? If not turn it on and never take it off.

>>34699904
>>AbilityDon't know if Forest ever tapped the well or not, but with 4 uses of Soul-Finder daily it can't hurt to blow one here.

Yes

The last time you charged in, you were using your abilities. This time, you won’t rely on them absolutely, just enough to help.

You engage your soul-finding and chaos-sight abilities, and a picture appears, overlaid on the world. Reed and Stone have a strange hue on them, so does one of the Auxilia, and beyond them, you can see two faint shimmers in the building – one on the small cargo loft far above, and one on the floor mnaybe ten feet in.

“One living person on the floor in front of us, one in the loft!” you snap, and then you’re in.

You charge in behind Reed – you are unarmored, after all – and take it all in as fast as you can.

Rolan’s body on the floor in front of you – he’s not moving – broken glass everywhere – splashes of blood on some items – display cases ransacked – fire in one of the display cabinets, out of control – tripwire across the front door – no sign of the target…


>ROLL 1D100+13

Rolled 75 + 13 (1d100 + 13)

>>34700069
Eternally shitty roller reporting in

Rolled 50 + 13 (1d100 + 13)

>>34700069

Rolled 5 + 13 (1d100 + 13)

>>34700069
whee dice
I realize it's probably too late, but dice are fun!

You look up and see the ladders that go up to the roof, the stairs that go up to the loft – back down, Roland has a Guard next to him, the Guard is shaking his shoulder – your eyes focus on Roland, you see the tiny shard of metal in his neck

Ice-cold rage floods your body. Forest didn’t kill Roland, he paralyzed him. No wonder Asa didn’t detect his soul.

But the stairs… you look back up and see no movement, but the person up there is getting more and more faded. They’re still climbing?


>Get Asa to warn Zahn somehow, even if it risks getting closer to Forest
>Use What Once Grew, Now Again on Roland
>Have the troops sweep the building or put out the fire
>writein

>>34700314
Is Roland in a condition to be moved? Or is that likely to kill him?

>>34700314
>Get Asa to warn Zahn somehow, even if it risks getting closer to Forest
A demigod should be able to pass a message without getting close.

>Have the troops sweep the building and put out the fire

>>34700314
Troops on fire control, heal Roland.
I assume you mean Roland is neck down paralyzed and dying.

>>34700469
I think he's just paralyzed, no dying. In which case we should go after Forest now and heal him later.

>>34700314
You have men, use them!

“Fan out!” you bellow. “Secure the room! He’s on the top floor, don’t let him get down the stairs! You, go put out the fire!” you say, pointing at one of the Guards.

“Aye!” he shouts, and he scampers over.

You stab the Gem as you run over to Roland’s side. {Sister, he’s heading to the rooftops! Warn Zahn, please!}

[I can’t get closer…but I can make a beam of light emerge from all possible exits on the rooftops,] she says. [I’m on it.]

{Roland is stabbed, sister, in the neck, and he’s paralyzed,} you think ugently. {Can I heal him?}

[How’s his pulse?]

You feel his neck below the dart tip. {Very, very slow.}

[Heal him now or he’ll die before you get another chance,] Asa warns you.


>Stay and heal him
>Rush the rooftops

ALSO!

>Have Reed go up the stairs
>Send the Auxiliaries instead
>Send the Guard and somebody else
>Send Stone or Drevie (alone or with somebody else)
>writein

>>34700778
>Stay and heal him
>Send the Auxiliaries and Reed

>>34700778
>>Stay and heal him
Poor security guard. Can't let him die...

>Have Reed go up the stairs
>Send the Auxiliaries instead

>>34700543
Well if he is not dying, continue to chase Forest

>>34700778
>>Stay and heal him
>Send the Auxiliaries instead

You slap your hand down over the dart and force your praun abilities into Roland’s body, pushing the wound shut and melding split nerves back together with raw power. “Reed… take the Auxiliaries up the stairs… and close off his escape route.”

“On it,” he says, and he runs off to the large stone steps. Stone and Drevie rush over to the ladder that goes directly to the roof.

Roland coughs feebly, and his hand twitches. “…What…” he manages.

“Hush, I’m healing you,” you mutter. Black spots whirl in front of your vision as you start to swoon. “Just… another second…”

Darkness.

Wakefulness is slow-coming and painful.

“Ow…” you mutter. “Where…am I?”

A hand grips your shoulder and pulls you upright. “Herald, wake up!” a voice demands. “Sorry, but we need you!”

You force your eyes to focus on the face of one of the Guards, the one who put out the fire. “Get up! Get up!” he bellows. “The roof!”

You look up at the sky. Wait… the sky?

Your divinity-addled brain focuses on the white and blue overhead, and you recoil in shock. There’s a huge slab of metal, stone, and wood, hanging by a single, strained metal beam.

You fall to your knees and scramble out of its way, just as it gives. The Guard grabs Roland’s wrists and tugs, and the three of you tumble out of the way in time.

The Guard shrieks and collapses as a shard of stone nearly takes off his arm. Roland is luckier, he just gets knocked on his ass. Clarity of pain rips through your fogged mind as a chunk of wood impales your left hand.


(con’t)

[Elsa! Elsa, no!] Asa gasps in your mind.

{Men down! The building is collapsing and on fire! What happened?} you scream in your mind.

[Forest dropped an alchemic grenade down the stairs as he charged out! Zahn saw what he was doing, and she’s fighting him now, but Reed and his men are trapped on the stairs!] Asa says, fear creeping into her divine voice. [The Auxiliaries are on the roof! Please, Sister, please climb up here! I have to see if he has Kotrick’s Orb!]


>Run out on the street and check from there
>Go up the stairs and try to see through the hole with Reed
>Climb the ladder directly
>writein

>>34701661
>Climb the ladder directly
If it's a full ladder we should be able to one-hand it easily enough.

>>34701661
>>Climb the ladder directly
This is going to go poorly...

>
[Forest dropped an alchemic grenade down the stairs
Hey! That's our thing! He can't do that!

{On the way!} you promise. You rise from Roland’s side and run for the ladder, passing the other Guard. That one has a bandage in his hands, and he kneels beside the first one.

With them taken care of for now, you climb up as fast as your agonized hand will allow, and emerge into a scene of total anarchy.

Zahn’s body is moving in ways you’ve never seen living flesh move. Her hands and feet are dancing across the rough stone of the ceiling like it’s ice. Her enchanted boots glimmer with every single moment, and the knives in her hands dart and zip through the air.

Forest, though, is no slouch. He has a small cut on the back of the left hand, but the sword he has in the right and punch-shield in the left are keeping Zahn at bay. The Auxilia are clustered around, trying to help Zahn, but Forest is just too fast.

The hitman skips back to avoid a vicious stab from Zahn, and his eyes lock on yours. His go as wide as teacups.

“NOOOO!” he screams. He turns and flings himself to the left, so that Zahn is between him and the Auxilia, then takes a running leap off the top of the building.

Shock freezes your limbs, for long enough for a beam of light to wash across your face. You blink it away and see Asa’s Avatar, crouched behind some roof decorations on another building, her hand shining. [Elsa, does he have the Orb?]

{I can’t tell!} you tell her.

She stands and focuses her eyes on the hitman. He lands in a crouching roll on the rooftop of a large bakery across the street and takes off in a dead sprint. [I… I can’t see one, but that doesn’t mean anything if it’s shielded!]


>Go to ground and give chase
>Regroup downstairs
>writein

>>34702148
>Go to ground and give chase
I didn't know he was this scared of us.

>>34702148
>>Go to ground and give chase
He's panicking. gogogog!

>>34702148
>Go to ground and give chase
Go to ground and give chase

“I’m going after him!” you announce.

Asa’s distant Avatar disappears, and a new one appears beside you. “No, you aren’t,” she says worriedly. “I can see how badly hurt you are. When the adrenaline wears off, you’re going to black out. You drained yourself healing that fellow, Roland.”

Even as she says it, your knees buckle. You catch yourself on a chimney and rub your hand over your eyes. “Can… can you do something?” you ask, as the soldiers race down the ladder.

“When you fall asleep, yes,” she says, frustration tingeing her voice. “Not while you’re awake. I don’t have magic, you’ll recall.”

“Can you, um… can you help me down to floor level?” you manage. “At least?”

She waves her hand, and the stairwell’s constituent stones and metal bars fly back into place. You stare at the display, unnerved but grateful. “Thank you,” you mutter, and you slowly walk down.

You pass Reed’s team on the way, and they stare with mouths agape. “Lady Asa? An honor!” Reed says, bowing low as soon as he regains his senses.

“Thank you, sir, but for now, I must ask that you give chase to the fugitive,” Asa says crisply. “Please hurry. He ran for the bakery across the street. He has tapped the Well, I can see it, so be careful. He nearly got your Infiltrator, but she is unharmed.”

“Thank you, milady,” he says, then casts a concerned glance your way before taking off at a sprint down the stairs. “Mount up!” he calls over his shoulder to the other two Shadows.


(con’t)

You slump down on the ground beside Roland and the Guards, who are all nursing wounds and burns. Asa kneels beside you all and looks at you with concern. “Sister, rest,” she urges you. “The King has a whole Guard company en route. You will be safe.”

“The hell happened?” Roland moans, nursing his head. The Guard with the messed-up arm whimpers.

“Forest got scared,” Asa says simply. “Sleep, all of you. I will heal you all as best you can.”

You rest your head on the stone, and black out in an instant.


>Roll 1d100 on the Dream Table. I take the first reply only.

Rolled 9 (1d100)

>>34702755
why did you let me down adrenaline

Okay, I'm going to dinner, and I'll write it up when I get back.

You are Spirit-guide.

The frenetic sounds of an overworked string instrument waft through the branches of the little outdoor picnic. You and your brothers are sitting around a fire, roasting nuts and potatoes, and talking to your demigod.

Ghalad is sitting at the side of the fire as well, listening intently. “A victory well-earned, my brothers,” he says with satisfaction. “Your kin will respect you all the more.”

“Respect is not as good as love,” one of your brothers notes.

“It’s better than contempt, my friend, and far better than hate,” Ghalad says drily. “The tribes of Mai’te’s children should never come to blows.”

You rip a chunk of potato off the stick and drop it in some water for a moment before popping it in your mouth. “Why do the light kin look down on us anyway, brother? Because we aschew their cities and towns?”

“That may be part of it,” Ghalad said. “Frankly, I think they feel they are favored in some way. They aren’t.”

You rub food off your lips and rise, dusting off your hands. “Well, back to it, then,” you say, and the others rise as well, casting their roasting sticks on the fire.

Ghalad stands, and claps his hand on your bare shoulder. The scars of the sun and a few brawls shimmer in his light, and the light of the sun. “Be safe, brother,” he says kindly. “I will greet you all, at the end.”


(con’t)

You are Elsa Ledren, and you’re awake.

You groan and sit up as wakefulness forces its way into your mind. “Ugh…”

Asa sits back on her haunches as you rise. “There. All better.”

“Thanks,” you grumble as you gingerly stand up. You look around to take stock of the place, and see it crawling with Guards – your men are here. “How did the battle go?” you ask automatically.

She shakes her head. “They saw him at great distance, running through the alleys too narrow for horses. He’s heading for the city walls.”

“Should I go too?” you ask.

“Not without eating and gearing up,” she says sternly. “You’re underequipped and starving.”


>Go home and get some gear and food
>For speed, go to the castle instead and borrow what you need
>Don’t actually pursue him; leave that to the experts
>writein

>>34703808
>>Go home and get some gear and food
Didn't blow all that money of the fancy gear for nothing. He may be heading for the walls, but how likely is he to get out easily?

He's trapped in the city and running scared shitless of Elsa. Just have to corner him now.

>>34703808
>For speed, go to the castle instead and borrow what you need

Rolled 2 (1d2)

Flipping a coin to do a tie-breaker. 1 for home, 2 for castle.

Impatient for a word of success, you turn for the door. “I’m heading for the castle,” you report. “I’ll gear up from my spare equipment in the barracks.”

“Very well,” Asa says, and she vanishes.

You take off for the castle, but you don’t get four blocks before your incredible hunger catches up with you. You lean against a wall, feeling pain shoot through your ankles and stomach, and walk the rest of the way there looking like a drunk.

When you’re in the castle’s parade ground, a number of soldiers there spot you, and at least a few recognize you. Excited murmurs kick up all around you, and unfortunately, you have to ignore them for now.

You collapse onto your bed in the barracks, sweating profusely. You strip off your clothes, ignoring the gasps from the women around you as they see the brand and Gem, and throw on your set of spare armor.

The quartermaster looks up in surprise as you stumble in. “Sergeant… oh! Herald!” She rises to her feet as you nearly fold up against the counter. “Are you all right?”

“Emergency ration bar and a spear, fast,” you manage. “This can’t wait.”

She doesn’t give you complaints, for a miracle, and passes you a bar, which you wolf down in an instant. The awful-tasting magic food may be gross, but it fills you up and strengthens you like a ten-hour sleep, and you’re already feeling better as she returns with a spear and shield. “Er, Herald, I hate to ask you, but… what’s going on?” she asks carefully.

“Fugitive… making for the walls,” you say through panting breaths as you strap on the spear and shield. “Quick, I need to rent a horse.”

The quartermaster passes you a token you can use in the stables as you spin on your heel and take off.


>Time to plan!

>Ride in on horseback
>Dismount near the wall and wait on foot
>Stay on horseback and ride around looking for him at the gates to the city
>writein

stay on horseback, patrol walls in gear that makes it not obvious its us

commandeer other guardsmen to help patrol and search

>>34704729
>>Ride in on horseback
Find guards or any of Reed's men. Get the latest info. Ask Asa if she can pop around and get the latest intel from those already searching.

Also regroup with somebody so we don't end up fighting Forest solo.

You rush down to the stables and pass the token to a stable boy, who hurriedly unhooks a horse from its pole. You don’t have time to prepare it properly, so you watch impatiently as the stable boy ties on a saddle and you leap right on. “Got to go, I’ll be back!” you call over your shoulder as you ride out like a thunderbolt.

The city streaks by as you race your mount to the walls, where the north gate Guards are lazily observing the usual stream of travelers come and go. Your mount slows, panting, and you lean over to grab the attention of the watch commander. “You! Guard! Front and center!” you bellow.

The Guard outranks you – by a lot, actually – but he must hear the urgency in your voice. “The hells’ going on?” he asks angrily.

“Shut up and listen! One of the criminals that Asa commissioned me to hunt, the weapons dealers, he’s coming here!” you shout, gesturing at your forehead. “Quick! Get your men in order! Shut the gate, now!”

“Shut the gate?” he demands, clearly not recognizing your brand. “Are you insane, Sergeant?”

>Pull divine rank
>writein

>>34705256
>Pull divine rank

You have no time for this.

You draw deep on Asa’s power in your reply. “Close the gate!” you roar, and the sound of your voice freezes everybody nearby in their tracks. “Now! I command you!”

The officer goes pale. “Herald… yes, ma’am!”

The Gate grinds shut, sealing the people in or out, whichever it happened to be, and you hear some feeble grumbles from people who got cut off from their convoys, but that doesn’t matter.

You turn your horse around and walk it along the inside of the wall, alert for anything that may be out of order.

You don’t see any Guards who look like they’ve been fighting, you don’t hear a battle… After a moment, you page Asa. {Sister, where’s the fight?}

[There isn’t one. I have an Avatar on the walltop, and it can’t see anything. Forest hasn’t escaped the city, I don’t think, but he hasn’t reached the wall yet. Reed’s team is near you… two blocks over. Go and talk to him.]

You speed up your animal, until Reed’s distinct Legionary Shadow armor comes into view around a corner. He raises his hand to beckon you over.

“Your Eminence, I’m glad you made it,” he says, out of breath. “The subject was within a few blocks of us, but he disappeared into one of these homes,” he says, pointing at the house beside him.

You look at the structure, and your heart sinks. The building is huge, and it has small skyways that connect it with three other buildings on the block. “Please say you’re kidding.”

“Shadows don’t have a sense of humor,” he says drily. “No joke.”


>Order the block sealed off
>Go into the house now
>Wait for more backup
>writein

>>34705940
Seal the block off.
Get back up.
Clear all three buildings room by room.

>>34705940
>Order the block sealed off
>Go into the house now
Burn another Soul - Finder before entering. If he's by the doorway waiting to ambush or something just throw in a grenade to start with.

You grind your palms into your eyes. “All right, somebody go order the block sealed,” you sigh. “Grab every soldier you can shake from their duty. We’re going to clear the place room-by-room.”

“All four buildings, ma’am?” Stone asks incredulously. “That will take hours.”

“Not if we get enough men here,” you sigh. You page Asa with an update. {Sister, he’s in one of these houses.}

[Can you view the place with your Chaos vision?] she asks. [I know it only stretches fifteen feet, but if he tries to ambush you…]

You watch the building with their energies of Chaos, but see nothing. {He’s not within fifteen feet of me,} you report.

[Very well. He has no Gift, so Soul-finder is worthless now.] She pauses. [The King is busy, but I’ve notified the Captain-General, and he has troops on the way. Army elites.]

{Fine. We’re going to lock down the buildings,} you report.


One of the Auxiliaries gallops off, and in minutes, Guard and Army troops are filtering in, in ones and twos. They take up positions on rooftops, in the streets and roads, behind fences, in the open-air stables of the four buildings.

From what you can see, this is a manor house, of some sort, with a large residence structure, a huge stable, a conservatorium and greenhouse, and either an observatory or guest structure, with a large dome roof. The other buildings, connected to the main structure, look like two guest houses and a pleasure gallery.

Reed leans against a fencepost, scanning the façade with practiced eyes. “I wonder…”

You look over at him. “Hmm?”

“Where are the servants?” He points at the huge, well-maintained trees that ring the place. “That takes upkeep. Where are the yard-men? Where are the stablehands? Where are the butlers and gutter-cleaners?”


>”Does it matter?”
>Check with Asa to see if he killed them
>”As long as they’re not in the way, I don’t care.”
>”That is odd.”
>”Think he lives here?”
>writein

>>34706547
>He has no Gift, so Soul-finder is worthless now
Typo in the pastebin, it says Soul Finder detects people who tapped the Well, not those with Gifts.

>”Think he lives here?”

>>34706734
>>34706734
Well I'll be fucked. You're absolutely right. It SHOULD be Well.

>>34706547
>>writein
"He may have taken a page out of Soutri's book and taken some hostages. Maybe this wasn't just a convenient place to hide and it was prepared beforehand for exactly this situation."

Are there any of the tunnels like those connecting to Elsa's house around here? If he came here with a plan there may be some escape route. Are there mages with tremorsensor or something?

>>34706831
Then we can burn it to find him? I don't want to give him time to escape here.

>>34706902

Sure. Let me just write this up.

For some reason, you decide to use the powers of the Soul-Finder anyway, and to your surprise, you see no fewer than three souls appear in the compound – one on the top floor of the pleasure gallery, one on the first floor of the manor house, and one in the basement of one of the guest houses. “There are people in there,” you tell Reed. Then you thumb the Gem. {Uh, sister, the Soul-finder seeks people who have tapped the Well, not those with the Gift.}

[You’re right, sorry,] she says sheepishly. [What do you see?]

[Three people. One in the main house, one in the guest house, one in the pleasure gallery.]

She goes quiet for a moment. [I’d wait for enough troops to arrive to secure the entryways to all the buildings before attacking,] she says.

{I don’t know much about magic. Are there any sorts of mages that can sense footsteps?} you ask.

[Certainly. Ask the Army commander if he has War Mages.]

You look up at the arching bridges between the buildings. {I see above-ground bridges. Think there’s underground tunnels, like the one to my house?}

[Of course, just like there are to all the manors and apartment blocks, but the one to your house only has three exits: the Utility Tower, the house you live in, and the castle.]


>Go ask for a few Mages
>Wait for backup
>We have enough men. Let’s go!
>writein

>>34707026
>>Go ask for a few Mages
Have them find any tunnels and get men stationed in them. Securing the structure is the first priority. Worst case scenario we can even just siege the damn place and wait for him to run out of food.

>>34707026

>Ask for a few mages
>Wait for backup
When backup arrives have them go through the other houses to block off those walkways, and under the house through tunnels, so they can block them off at that one point. And then go in.

You nod to Reed and walk over to where the Army commander – a Brigadier you don’t know – is talking with a pair of Army specialists with large boxes of acid grenades. “The troops we have on site are well-tooled, to say the least, but the problem is that we don’t know why the people inside aren’t leaving,” he says angrily. He turns to yell at the Sergeant who’s interrupting him, then sees your brand and snaps to attention. “Herald Ledren! An honor,” he says, saluting crisply.

You return it and nod your head at the buildings. “There’s three people who have tapped the Well in there, sir. Whether or not there’s others, I don’t know, but the priority now is sealing off the tunnels and bridges.”

The General looks at you oddly. “Er, Brigadier Cordland, nice to meet you,” he says huffily. “And the tunnels are a non-issue. They’re completely flooded.”

“Ah, they’re water pipes, then?” you ask. “The tunnels under my house can fit three men abreast.”

He shales his head. “These aren’t Utility transit pipelines, these are little sewer and water pipes,” he explains. “The bridges, yeah, those are a bit open, but they’re just that: open. No roofs. Nobody can cross them without us seeing it.”

“Then we should have the mages sweep the place to seek out footfalls and heartbeats,” you say. “Anybody here who can do that?”


(con’t)

The Army officer looks over at where four War Mages are huddled over a map. “I’ve got them on it already.”

“Thanks, General.” You salute and walk over to where the Mages are standing, and clear your throat so they hear you. “Folks?”

The Mages all look up. Their leader by rank – again, a stranger – looks at you with well-concealed awe. The others don’t conceal it. “Herald Ledren, a true pleasure,” she says reverently. “How may we assist you?”

“Footfalls and heartbeats, my friend. Anything like that in there other than in the top floor of the gallery, the gound floor of the main building, and the basement of the guest house?”

They all look at each other, then one spreads their hands over the map and closes his eyes. After about sixty seconds, he looks up at you again. “Yes, your Eminence. One besides the one you listed, in the tool shed of the conservatory.”


>Four targets. How do you proceed? The place is ringed by a wooden slat fence – anybody with strong legs could kick through and enter, or just jump it.

>>34707645
Go in with a squad of guardsmen and a couple of those mages in the back. Asa confirmed Forest had tapped the Well, so he's definitely not the one in the shed. Just in case have someone go check out who they are/what they're doing.

>>34707645
Check with someone on the rooftops, find out what they can see through the windows.

If nothing from that, we grab a bunch of guys and clear each room one by one. Start with the tool shed and work our way up from there. If we're lucky it's some sort of servant and he can tell us if this place was setup with traps or other fun stuff.

>>34707257
>>34707026
I think he'll go for some hostages so he can buy time.

Need to get backup and try to seal things off. If we get mages, we can possibly detect him in the dark and underground.

“In a place that large, he’ll have weeks and weeks of food, and that’s assuming that the family didn’t buy supplies for the winter,” you muse. “Any of you close-in-battle trained?”

“I am,” one says. “Fire and earth magic.”

“Great, you tag along with me,” you instruct. “We’ll go pick up a few of the Shadows and Guards and clean the place out. There’s civilians in there – at least three.”

Suddenly, your forehead buzzes. [Sister, wait!] Asa says urgently. [Don’t go in yet!]

You press your hand to the Gem. {What?}

[I’ve confirmed it!] she says hastily. [This is Forest’s home base! Those life signs could be hostages, groundskeepers, family members of his cover identity… anything]

Oh. Well… doesn’t that make things more complex?


[END OF THREAD]


Sorry to run, but I need to get ready for work tomorrow. We'll pick up on Friday night.

>>34708071
Thanks for running!

Thanks for playing. This was an eventful session.